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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FX48

Portability
85
Imaging
48
Features
47
Overall
47
Olympus PEN E-PL2 front
 
Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48 front
Portability
95
Imaging
34
Features
21
Overall
28

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FX48 Key Specs

Olympus E-PL2
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - Four Thirds Sensor
  • 3" Fixed Screen
  • ISO 100 - 6400
  • Sensor based Image Stabilization
  • 1280 x 720 video
  • Micro Four Thirds Mount
  • 362g - 114 x 72 x 42mm
  • Introduced February 2011
  • Earlier Model is Olympus E-PL1s
  • Refreshed by Olympus E-PL3
Panasonic FX48
(Full Review)
  • 12MP - 1/2.3" Sensor
  • 2.5" Fixed Display
  • ISO 80 - 3200 (Boost to 6400)
  • Optical Image Stabilization
  • 640 x 480 video
  • 25-125mm (F2.8-5.9) lens
  • 150g - 95 x 53 x 22mm
  • Released January 2009
  • Other Name is Lumix DMC-FX40
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FX48 Overview

Let's look much closer at the Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FX48, former being a Entry-Level Mirrorless while the other is a Small Sensor Compact by brands Olympus and Panasonic. The image resolution of the E-PL2 (12MP) and the FX48 (12MP) is very comparable but the E-PL2 (Four Thirds) and FX48 (1/2.3") provide different sensor sizing.

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The E-PL2 was introduced 2 years later than the FX48 and that is a fairly large difference as far as camera technology is concerned. The two cameras feature different body design with the Olympus E-PL2 being a Rangefinder-style mirrorless camera and the Panasonic FX48 being a Compact camera.

Before going into a complete comparison, here is a concise summation of how the E-PL2 matches up against the FX48 with regards to portability, imaging, features and an overall grade.

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Reasons to pick Olympus E-PL2 over the Panasonic FX48

 E-PL2 FX48 
ReleasedFebruary 2011January 2009More recent by 25 months
Manual focus Dial accurate focus
Display size3"2.5"Larger display (+0.5")
Display resolution460k230kClearer display (+230k dot)

Reasons to pick Panasonic FX48 over the Olympus E-PL2

 FX48 E-PL2 

Common features in the Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic FX48

 E-PL2 FX48 
Display typeFixed Fixed Fixed display
Selfie screen No selfie screen
Touch friendly display Neither contains Touch friendly display

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FX48 Physical Comparison

For anybody who is intending to lug around your camera regularly, you will need to factor in its weight and dimensions. The Olympus E-PL2 has got exterior measurements of 114mm x 72mm x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") with a weight of 362 grams (0.80 lbs) while the Panasonic FX48 has dimensions of 95mm x 53mm x 22mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.9") with a weight of 150 grams (0.33 lbs).

Analyze the Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FX48 in our newest Camera & Lens Size Comparison Tool. Camera Size Comparison with Lenses

Keep in mind, the weight of an ILC will change based on the lens you have during that time. The following is a front view physical size comparison of the E-PL2 and the FX48.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FX48 size comparison

Taking into consideration dimensions and weight, the portability score of the E-PL2 and FX48 is 85 and 95 respectively.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FX48 top view buttons comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FX48 Sensor Comparison

Normally, it is difficult to imagine the difference in sensor measurements only by going through specs. The graphic underneath will offer you a clearer sense of the sensor measurements in the E-PL2 and FX48.

As you can plainly see, both the cameras feature the identical megapixels but different sensor measurements. The E-PL2 contains the larger sensor which will make obtaining shallow DOF less difficult. The fresher E-PL2 should have an edge with regard to sensor technology.

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FX48 sensor size comparison

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FX48 Screen and ViewFinder

Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FX48 Screen and Viewfinder comparison
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Photography Type Scores

Portrait Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Portrait photography camera
Panasonic FX48 as a Portrait photography camera
60
has manual focus
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers face detect autofocus
saves RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
27
offers face detect focusing
focusing manually not possible
can't use external flash
low megapixels (12MP)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Street Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 Street photography details
Panasonic FX48 Street photography details
73
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
screen is fixed
56
has image stabilization (Optical)
no moving screen
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
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Sports Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Sports photography camera
Panasonic FX48 as a Sports photography camera
45
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
offers tracking focus
slow continuous shooting (3.0 frames/s)
MP count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery (280 CIPA)
does not have phase detect autofocus
25
has image stabilization (Optical)
low fps (2.0 frames/s)
no shutter priority mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have phase detect AF
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Travel Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Travel photography camera
Panasonic FX48 as a Travel photography camera
51
built-in flash
lack of Time Lapse mode
terrible battery (280 per charge)
MP count low (12MP)
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
58
built-in flash
reasonably wide (25mm)
lack of Timelapse mode
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
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Landscape Comparison

Olympus E-PL2 as a Landscape photography camera
Panasonic FX48 as a Landscape photography camera
61
has manual focus
change lenses (Micro Four Thirds mount)
screen size is decent (3")
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
sensor size is nice (Four Thirds)
saves RAW formats
MP count low (12 megapixels)
terrible battery (280 shots)
lack of Time Lapse mode
33
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
focusing manually not possible
lens is fixed (fixed lens mount)
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
small screen (2.5 inch)
low megapixels (12 megapixels)
sensor size is small (1/2.3")
does not have RAW format
lack of Timelapse mode
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Vlogging Comparison

Vlogging with Olympus E-PL2
Vlogging with Panasonic FX48
29
has image stabilization (Sensor based)
offers face detect autofocus
doesn't offer selfie friendly screen
low res video (1280 x 720 pxls)
lack of mic socket
30
reasonably wide (25mm)
has image stabilization (Optical)
offers face detect focusing
somewhat slow maximum aperture (f2.8)
doesn't feature selfie friendly screen
video quality not great (640 x 480 pxls)
lack of microphone port
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Olympus E-PL2 vs Panasonic FX48 Specifications

Detailed spec comparison table for Olympus E-PL2 and Panasonic FX48
 Olympus PEN E-PL2Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48
General Information
Brand Name Olympus Panasonic
Model type Olympus PEN E-PL2 Panasonic Lumix DMC-FX48
Also Known as - Lumix DMC-FX40
Type Entry-Level Mirrorless Small Sensor Compact
Introduced 2011-02-11 2009-01-27
Body design Rangefinder-style mirrorless Compact
Sensor Information
Processor Chip Truepic V -
Sensor type CMOS CCD
Sensor size Four Thirds 1/2.3"
Sensor measurements 17.3 x 13mm 6.08 x 4.56mm
Sensor surface area 224.9mm² 27.7mm²
Sensor resolution 12 megapixel 12 megapixel
Anti alias filter
Aspect ratio 4:3 4:3, 3:2 and 16:9
Maximum resolution 4032 x 3024 4000 x 3000
Maximum native ISO 6400 3200
Maximum boosted ISO - 6400
Minimum native ISO 100 80
RAW images
Autofocusing
Focus manually
Autofocus touch
Autofocus continuous
Single autofocus
Autofocus tracking
Autofocus selectice
Center weighted autofocus
Multi area autofocus
Live view autofocus
Face detection autofocus
Contract detection autofocus
Phase detection autofocus
Total focus points 11 11
Lens
Lens mount type Micro Four Thirds fixed lens
Lens zoom range - 25-125mm (5.0x)
Maximal aperture - f/2.8-5.9
Macro focusing range - 5cm
Total lenses 107 -
Focal length multiplier 2.1 5.9
Screen
Screen type Fixed Type Fixed Type
Screen sizing 3 inch 2.5 inch
Screen resolution 460 thousand dot 230 thousand dot
Selfie friendly
Liveview
Touch function
Screen tech HyperCrystal LCD AR(Anti-Reflective) coating -
Viewfinder Information
Viewfinder type Electronic (optional) None
Features
Lowest shutter speed 60s 60s
Highest shutter speed 1/4000s 1/3000s
Continuous shooting speed 3.0 frames per second 2.0 frames per second
Shutter priority
Aperture priority
Manual exposure
Exposure compensation Yes Yes
Custom white balance
Image stabilization
Built-in flash
Flash distance 10.00 m 6.00 m
Flash options Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye, Fill-in, Slow Sync, Manual (3 levels) Auto, On, Off, Red-Eye reduction, Slow Sync
Hot shoe
AEB
WB bracketing
Highest flash sync 1/160s -
Exposure
Multisegment metering
Average metering
Spot metering
Partial metering
AF area metering
Center weighted metering
Video features
Video resolutions 1280 x 720 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps) 848 x 480 (30 fps), 640 x 480 (30 fps), 320 x 240 (30 fps)
Maximum video resolution 1280x720 640x480
Video file format Motion JPEG Motion JPEG
Microphone jack
Headphone jack
Connectivity
Wireless None None
Bluetooth
NFC
HDMI
USB USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec) USB 2.0 (480 Mbit/sec)
GPS None None
Physical
Environmental seal
Water proofing
Dust proofing
Shock proofing
Crush proofing
Freeze proofing
Weight 362 gr (0.80 pounds) 150 gr (0.33 pounds)
Physical dimensions 114 x 72 x 42mm (4.5" x 2.8" x 1.7") 95 x 53 x 22mm (3.7" x 2.1" x 0.9")
DXO scores
DXO All around rating 55 not tested
DXO Color Depth rating 21.4 not tested
DXO Dynamic range rating 10.2 not tested
DXO Low light rating 573 not tested
Other
Battery life 280 photos -
Type of battery Battery Pack -
Battery ID BLS-5 -
Self timer Yes (2 or 12 sec) Yes (2 or 10 sec)
Time lapse shooting
Type of storage SD/SDHC SD/MMC/SDHC card, Internal
Storage slots One One
Price at launch $0 $325